MIRACLE OPEN
Sunday 2nd July 2006
The 3rd Teesdale Sailing Club Miracle Open was held on Sunday 2nd July. The weather was gloriously hot and sunny with a worrying early morning calm giving way to a gusty and variable south easterly. One visiting sailor was heard to say that the locals would know where all the wind shifts would be, but the truth is that we so rarely get a south easterly that the locals knew nothing more than the visitors. The club was pleased to welcome seven boats from other waters, to add to the five that we put out. It was good to see some returning friends and some new faces as well. All were welcome and we hope that you will come again.
Race One.
Most boats crowded the line afraid that the wind might drop in the seconds before the start and leave them way off the pace. There were a few calls for water as Keith & Neil Martin (Teesdale) squeezed in at the windward end. Despite this Wayne Atherton and Steve Wroe (Leigh & Lowton) had greater boat speed off the line and made the short distance to the windward mark in first place. This was a position that they never lost and indeed steadily increased to 43 seconds by the finish. Ian & Geraldine Downie (Killington) in their beautiful new Mark 4 Miracle held second place but were then lowered to 7th by a lack of wind on one side of the lake whilst everyone else motored on on the other. Although it never died away completely the wind was light and the OOD wary of his charges being late for lunch shortened the course to two laps after just 45 minutes.
Lunch was a splendid affair with many eating theirs outside in the brilliant sunshine whilst others hid from the heat indoors. Many thanks to Alma Andrew and her team of helpers for such an enjoyable meal.
Race Two
The wind had filled in a bit by the afternoon and boat speed was improved to such an extent that a number of boats arrived at the line early and were forced to bear off allowing the chargers from the back a clean start. Richard and Enid Sandilands (Teesdale) stole the lead with Richard Hewitt and Robert Johnson (Teesdale) second. By the second mark Hewitt and Johnson held the lead but attempted a marginal spinnaker hoist and lost out as it collapsed and others sailed past. Carl & Tim Cripps took over the lead spot and held it to the finish. Having made a poor start and hit the first mark Atherton and Wroe settled into some smooth sailing and gradually worked their way through the fleet to claim second place. Many in the club were inspired to see our senior citizens, the Sandilands sailing boat number 220 doing so well. They held on to second place for three laps and were then dealt a cruel blow by a viscious wind shift which dumped them down to 7th before they clawed their way back to 5th at the finish.
Race Three
Again some boats arrived early at the start and had to check allowing those with greater speed to sail through. Osorio and Osorio held the lead followed by Atherton and Wroe who in an attempt to catch up hoisted their spinnaker on a very marginal reach and were caught out by a strong gust causing them to capsize. With great skill they had their boat upright again and sailing without losing second place. There was a tremendous battle further down the order with Keith & Neil Martin pipping Hewitt & Johnson to the line by just 1 second to claim 4th spot in the race but more importantly the honour of fastest home boat overall.
Atherton and Wroe took the prize for the fastest boat overall, with Osorio and Osorio in second place. Howard and Dinah Nolson won the prize for the fastest non-spinnaker boat for the second year running.